Bank protective method and apparatus



Dec. 13, 1932. R. B. REYNOLDS BANK PROTECTIVE METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed April 16. 1931 Patented ec. 13, 1932 ROBERT B. REYNOLDS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERAL LABORATORIES, INC., 01? PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE BANK PROTECTIVE METHOD AND APPARATUS Application filed April 16,

Generically this invention relates to a process and apparatus for the protection of banks, and the like, but more particularly it is directed to an installation applicable to bank interiors, safes, vaults, and other depositories, either automatically or remotely controlled for liberating a gas containing properties adapted to cause a variety of different temporarily incapacitating effects on a person or persons within the gaseous area.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of an apparatus of the above character adapted to combine a number of gases having different and distinct incapacitating effects, such as a smoke or fog gas, a lachrymatory gas, a sternutatory gas, a coughing gas, and the like, and disperse the same to the surrounding atmosphere.

An important object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character comprising a mixing and pressure chamber, a series of gas charge containing chambers or inlets communicating therewith, a discharge outlet therefrom, and means for igniting and directing the gases into the mixing chamber, and the quick and non-explosive discharge of the mixed substance into the surrounding atmosphere.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a process and apparatus for igniting and mixing a smoke gas, a dry or tear gas and a liquid gas such as capsaicin, and dispersing the mixture under pressure to the surrounding atmosphere, whereby the distinct incapacitating eflect of each of the respective gases is present throughout the predetermined gaseous area.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a process and apparatus for i niting and mixing several different forms of gases with a liquid gas and dispersing the composite substance under pressure to the surrounding atmosphere, whereby spraying of the liquid gas is prevented.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,

1931. Serial No. 530,712.

Fig. lis a fragmentary detail of Fig. 2,

showing the liquid gascontaining capsule and its support.

The prevalence with which bank oflicials have been held up and robbed, safes and vaults broken into, and the like, has rendered it imperative that means be devised for incapacitating the intruders, and which to a limited extent has been accomplished by a temporary incapacitating agent of an,irritating nature, but the efiectivencss of which has been impaired by the use of. certain repellent means, such for instance as a gas mask, and it was to overcome such deficiency, and to provide a process and apparatus by means of which various types of irritating gases having distinct and respective incapacitating effects, such for instance, lachrymatory, sternutatory, coughing, and the like, are combined and the mixture dispersed under pressure throughout a predetermined atmospheric area, and each of the constituent substances exertingits particular effect Within said area, that I provided the method and apparatus forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown an apparatus A, comprising a mixing and pressure chamber 1, in the present instance substantially rectangular in configuration and formed in its ends and rear side with threaded openings .2 adapted to threadedly or otherwise suitably secure the inner or open ends of the respective gas containing receptacles or chambers 3, 4, and 5. Each of these chamhers is adapted-to contain a different type of gas, such as for instance, a non-toxic fog gas substance 6, a tear gas 7, and a liquid gas such as capsaicin 8, respectively, filled and refilled or charged and recharged as desired.

However, these chambers 3, 4, and 5, may according to the particular requirements, be in the form of replaceable cartridges filled with the desired gas charges, and which in no wise changes the principle of my invention.

An electrical mechanism 9'is suitably connected to each of the respective chambers or cartridges 3, 4, and 5, either immediately or remotely controlled for igniting and simultaneously causing the respective gases to enter chamber 1 from different directions effecting a thorough mixing and generating suificient pressure to force the composite gaseous substance into the surrounding atmosphere through outlet opening 10 and nozzle 11 communicating therewith. Though nozzle 11 may be varied according to the particular requirements, in the present instance it is of hemispherical or dome like shape internally threaded to receive the threaded connection 12 likewise threadedly engageable in opening 10 and preferably formed with one or more slots 13 so positioned as to discharge the gas therefrom in any desired direction, and thereby selectively establishing the gaseous area with respect to the apparatus or device A. In this connection it will be further noted that the slots 13 are initially closed with a suitable sealing substance or material l ladapted to withstand a predetermined pressure, that is, the pressure resistance being ratioed in accordance with the area to be permeated, and therefore said substance will maintain the'slots or openings 13 closed until the heat within the chamber has effected the volatilization of the substances 6,v

In this connection. it may be additionally.

noted that chamber 1 to a certain extent is an expansion chamber and nozzle 11 a pressure chamber, as will be apparent from the above description.

While I have referred generally to the employment of chamber 5 as containing the gaseous substance 8, it is often preferable to have same contained in a capsule 5 positioned on holder 16 suitably mounted within chamber 1 and adapted to burst or otherwise disinte rate under the action of heat generated in said chamber by the combustion of particles of substances 6 and 7 introduced therein, and thereby liberating the substance 8 which is volatilized completely or partially depending upon the quantity, thoroughly mixed with and carried by the other gaseous substances in the form of a composite gas-and dispersed in the surrounding atmosphere, and whereby spraying of said substance is eliminated, and the action of each of the respective constituent gases is simultaneously efiective to temporarily incapacitate a person or persons within the gas treated area, irrespective of a particular gas repellent.

It is to be understood that depending upon the size of the area to be permeated, one or a plurality of devices A may be electrically or otherwise suitably connected for simultaneous or successive operation as desired.

While the operation of my device would seem to be clear from the above description, in conclusion it might be well to further state that the respective irritants enumerated as 6 and 7 and described as contained in chambers or cartridges 3 and 4 are initially prepared in concentrated form with a suflicient fuel content, upon being ignited, to generate the requisite heat to efl'ect the volatilization of said substances, the evolved irritants building up pressure in said chamber, and said heat likewise eflecting an evolved irritant from substance 8 contained in chamber 5 or as liberated from capsule 5' which is like- -ratioed in accordance with the atmospheric area to be treated, and the size of the openings ratioed inaccordance with the interior dimensions of chamber 1, the fuel amount, and extent of area to be treated, so that after the-first blast-like permeation of said area, said openings will maintain the pressure suificiently constant to eifect a continuous dispersion of the composite gaseous substance throughout said area until the source of supply has become exhausted, with the attendant respective incapacitating effects above enumerated and irrespective of a. particular gas repellant or mask.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most eflicient and practical, yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my inventionwill necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion, arrangement of parts, and manner of operation, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

It will also be noted that the illustrated construction enables me to use liquid gas producing substances in certain cartridges other mousse than heretofore specified, in that the nozzle .and the shells are arranged at a sufficient angle with respect to each other to prevent direct spraying.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. A gas dispersing apparatus embodying a mixing chamber, a plurality of gaseous substance containing elements communicating therewith, a discharge nozzle having openings therein, means in connection with said openings operable upon a predetermined pressure, fuelized gaseous charges in said elements, and means for efi'ecting ignition of said charges.

2. A gas dispersing apparatus embodying a mixing and pressure chamber, detachable container elements communicating therewith, a discharge nozzle formed with openings in one side thereof, means sealing said openings and removable upon a predetermined pressure, fuelized vaporizable irritant substances in said elements, and means for efiecting the ignition and discharge of said substances into said chamber, whereby the evolved irritants are mixed, pressure generated, and the composite substance discharged from said nozzle through said openings in a predetermined direction.

3. A gas dispersing apparatus adapted to permeate a predetermined area, said apparatus including a mixing chamber, a discharge nozzle formed with predeterminedly positioned openings, sealing means normally closing said openings, a plurality of vaporizable irritant substances associated with said chamber, means for vaporizing, discharging said substances into said chamber, and generating heat and pressure therein, whereby said irritants are mixed, said sealing means removed, and permeation of said area by said evolved mixture effected.

4. A gas dispersing apparatus adapted to permeate a predetermined area, comprising a mixing and pressure chamber, vaporizable irritant and non-irritant substances dischargeable in said chamber, certain of which have fuel properties, means for igniting said fuel, a discharge nozzle movably connected to said chamber formed with predeterminedly sized and positioned openings,means normally closing said openings and operable upon. a

predetermined pressure, the size of said openings being in proportion to the interior dimensions of the chamber and the extent of the area to be permeated, whereby said evolved irritants are dispersed throughout said area in the form of a composite gas.

5. A gas dispersing apparatus adapted to permeate a predetermined area, including a mixing and pressure chamber, a vaporizable .irritant substance having combustible properties adapted to discharge into said chamber, means for igniting said properties, and

a discharge nozzle having predeterminedly positioned normally closed openings, whereby the vaporization and mixing of the evolved irritants within said chamber is effected, the predetermined area with respect tion to said area and the interior dimensions.

of said chamber, and said sealing means having a pressure resistance in proportion to said area, whereby the volatilization of said irritants, and mixing and generation of pressure in said chamber is effected, the ar'ea with respect to said device established, andv the instantaneous and sustained permeation of said area with said evolved irritants in the form of a composite gas effected.

7. A gas dispersing apparatus embodying a mixture chamber, a plurality of cartridges associated with said chamber, each cartridge containing an incapacitating gas generating substance capable of producing a different transitory effect, and each of said cartridges communicating with the mixing chamber, ignition means for the cartridges, and means in connection with the mixing chamber to discharge the gaseous contents at a predetermined pressure.

8. A gas dispersing apparatus embodying a mixing chamber, a plurality of cartridges detachably associated with said chamber and communicating therewith, each cartridge containing an incapacitating gas generating substance capable of producing a different transitory eiiect, ignition means for the cartridges, and means in connection with the mixing chamber to discharge the gaseous contents at a predetermined pressure.

9. A gas dispersing apparatus embodying a mixing chamber, a plurality of cartridgea associated with said chamber, each cartridge containing an incapacitating gas generating substance capable of producing a different transitory eifect, and each of said cartridges communicating with the mixing chamber, ignition means for the cartridges, and means in connection with the mixing chamber to effect a sudden discharge of its gases when they have attained a predetermined pressure, the latter being predicated upon the area to be permeated This specification signed this 14th day of March 1931.

- ROBERT B. REYNOLDS. 

